Cruise Add on?

[TexasTravelGirl]

OK as I have been pretty active on this board lately, and I know I am taking an ABD trip next year.

Can someone explains to me how the cruise add ons work? Do you pay for the cruise and then the ABD? I can't find prices anywhere online, and I am just curious how this works, and if there are any links that explain it.

To me it seems like a a luxury shore excursion package, but I am sure it is more than that. Any explanation, links etc would be great, may need to research this for my next big trip, once I pay of ABD... Sayhello says these are addictive after all...

 

[abdgeek]

The ABD add-ons are AWESOME and yes, ABD is addictive. Once you get used to traveling with them, you won't want to travel any other way. I did the Med Cruise add-on in 2011 and had a ball! I know that I saw more things by doing the add-on than I would have seen by myself. I don't want to spoil the surprises, but with the add-on you usually get special activities on the days at sea, you get a free meal with the group at Palo, a case of water, and a free photo pass. You also see the main sights in each city and have special activities that no one else does. For example, we saw Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze in a day. We had reserved viewing for the changing of the guard and had lunch at the Fairmont Monte Carlo overlooking the ocean. In Naples, we went to Sorrento to a family farm and made pizzas and then went to Capri where they had chartered a boat for us. We saw the island and swam in the ocean. At the Trevi Fountain, the ABD Guides gave us money to throw in the fountain. These are just a couple of the things that, to me, set the add-on apart.

Make sure you go to the ABD website and look at the itinerary. It will tell you everything you will do. You can then look at the regular excursions that are offered for the cruise and see what they cost and if you can match up the exact ones that ABD is doing. You won't be able to!

Someone else will have to answer the money question. I use my points to book my DCL and ABD trip.

 

[CBEB]

We did the ABD add-on for our Alaska cruise (our 1st ABD) and have been addicted ever since! When we were trying to justify the $$$ we priced all of the individual excursions that were covered in our itinerary and it just about matched. Consider that you canNOT do all of those excursions on your own. Add in all if the extra magic... Awesome! We're doing the Med cruise add-on in August.

 

[sayhello]

I agree with everything abdgeek & CBEB said!

I did the Med cruise ABD add-on in 2010, and absolutely LOVED it! Not only did I do nothing but awesome excursions in each port, but, some of the days, did *multiple* excursions, which would have been virtually impossible to manage otherwise (since all transportation & coordination is handled by ABD). I was on the first or second ever add-on. So one day (Monaco) it turned out that one of the places we were supposed to go closed. So, like that, they took us to Eze instead! We had 3 excursions that day, and loved them all. And you have the services of the Guides onboard, also if you want. There were other great things included, also. If you board before the cabins are ready, the Guides will hold your bags for you while you go get lunch, etc. A free case of water was included. All photos were included.

And for me, since I was sailing solo, the other benefit was having 38 other folks that I saw every day and got to know, and shared all the excursion with. That was a great benefit.

I did the same as CBEB and compared the price of the ABD and it's extras to the closest excursions I could find, plus the cost of Shutters' CD of photos, dinner at Palo's, etc, and the difference wasn't much. Obviously you can do *cheaper* excursions, but if you compare apples to apples, the cost is not that far off.

You have to have a cruise booked to book the ABD. I did it at the same time (you book the ABD through DCL, not through ABD). I also think I had to call DCL to get the pricing (although I could be wrong on that one. It's been a few years).

Sayhello

 

[kmc33]

I was wondering if cruise passengers that book the ABD add-on get any benefits regarding ship embarkation the first day, such as early boarding privileges or a special waiting area in the terminal?
Thanks!

 

[abdgeek]

I was wondering if cruise passengers that book the ABD add-on get any benefits regarding ship embarkation the first day, such as early boarding privileges or a special waiting area in the terminal?
Thanks!

Not that I remember, but an ABD guide was there in the terminal to meet you and explain things. They had a kiosk set up after the place where they were taking pictures, but before you got on the ship.